Posts [ 9 ]

Topic: What Language?

I'm really after some advice here. I started learning Rails using the Agile Development book, and have since come away from it and concentrated more on XSLT and XML as my CMS uses it and it seems the natural language to learn coming from an xhtml and css background. Now I know XSLT and Rails are totally different and serve different purposes but I would like to learn them both if possible.

I would also want to learn Ruby too, as that may help me understand Rails more. Why do I want to learn Ruby on Rails? Well because I don't want to learn PHP, because I just think it is far to complicated and from what I have seen with Rails and Ruby it seems a fairly shallower learning curve.

I have also started to notice that Ruby on Rails is fastly becoming a sought after skill.

Re: What Language?

My advice would be to pick a project and attempt to complete it. Rather than trying to learn the right combination of skills without knowing what will be needed you should find something you want to do and tackle it. This way you'll be able to see right away what's possible and what's not.

You might find that XSLT is really handy, or you might discover that you could do the same functionality in fewer lines of code or even with an existing Rails component.

Re: What Language?

I suggest spending some time learning about object oriented programming (oop) and then stepping into Ruby. Without knowing at least a little theory behind OOP Ruby may be a little difficult to understand.

I agree with danger as well...once you've ventured OOP and Ruby try to complete a project; utilizing ruby on rails forums and the wiki.

Re: What Language?

I come from a php background, I think php is fairly easy. but it took me some time to get my head around ruby's everthing is an object thing. I read a book called "Ruby for Rails" which although I did'nt like the actual rails tutorial, I thought it covered all the basics of ruby very well.

Re: What Language?

If you feel confident in your scripting skills and can catch on to things quickly, then I suggest jumping right into Rails. Run through the Depot application in Agile Web Development with Rails then try one simple project on your own using the book as a reference. If you don't feel like you "get it" after that, I suggest taking a step back and learning Ruby on its own (if that's the area you feel you are struggling).

Rails in itself has quite a learning curve. It has its own way of doing things, so even if you learn Ruby extensively beforehand, expect to take some time to learn the Rails conventions, etc.